Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110668

Savath Sol, MD, RACHA, House #30, Street 360, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 85512819697, ssowath@racha.org.kh and La Ine Pa, Ms, MCH Director Pursat Province, PO Box 2471, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

At least forty percent of Cambodian mothers turn first to village shopkeepers in seeking care for their sick child because of their accessibility and proximity to the community. There are more than 130,000 village shopkeepers spread throughout Cambodia. Several studies point to shopkeepers providing inappropriate medications particularly to common childhood diseases like diarrhea and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI). Reproductive and Child Health Alliance (Racha) with its experience in tapping community resources, realized the potential of the shopkeepers in providing the community with appropriate first-line treatment to common diseases. In 2000, Racha introduced ORS packets to the shopkeepers making this readily accessible to villagers. The success of the activity led to the development of training to shopkeepers on management of childhood illnesses emphasizing correct home care for ARI and CDD and recognizing danger signs necessitating immediate medical care. Separation of drugs for adults and children and information on drugs that are potentially dangerous to children were also included. Follow-up visits to the shopkeepers have been done regularly to reinforce correct practices. The results have been positive with shopkeepers educating clients on proper child care, discouraging use of antibiotics in simple colds and recommending ORS for diarrhea. To date, a total of 160,275 ORS packets were sold since the program started. Presently, the shops also provide iodized salt, contraceptives and soon, iron-fortified fish sauce.

Learning Objectives:

• Participant should be able to identify community resources in their setting that improve access to basic health commodities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.